What a School Board President at a School District wishes they had known before entering the Education industry
Peter, College School District's Board President, reflects that the role's demanding aspects— "very long meetings" and extensive reports—weren't fully appreciated before taking on the position, though the experience is ultimately rewarding. The unexpected element is the constant engagement with community members regarding school issues, even outside of official settings.
Executive/Leadership, Communication, Industry Realities, Workplace Challenges, Time Management
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Peter Wright
President of the Board
College School District
Occidental College
MPA: University of Southern California; PhD: University of California, Santa Barbara
Political Science, American Studies
Education
Education
Scholarship Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Student Athlete
Video Highlights
1. The role involves extensive reading of reports and attending lengthy meetings.
2. The position requires significant time commitment beyond formal meetings.
3. Community members frequently engage the board president regarding school issues, impacting personal time.
Transcript
Q9: Wish I'd known before - industry.
What have you learned about this role that you wish someone would have told you before you entered the industry? It's an interesting question because often people will give you really good advice, and sometimes you can't truly hear that advice until you've lived it.
I love everything about being a school board president. What they told me and I didn't know is that the meetings are very long. The reports to read are also very long.
And when you're at the grocery store, everyone wants to talk to you about some issue that's happening on campus. All those things are great. It's just that you don't always realize what the job entails until you actually go through it.
So no complaints, just a new awareness.